Jet apparatus.



A. F. SYKES.

JET APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

A. F. SYKES.

JET APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Jun; 19. 1916.

A. F. SYKES.

JET APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. me.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3- A. F. SYKES.

JET APPARATUS.

TION FILED JUNE19 APPLICA I916. 1,200,900. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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f W A A. F. SYKES.

JET APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED'IUNE I9, 1916- 1 ,2005900. Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRIAN FRANCIS SYKES, OF NEW BARNET, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR' F ONE-THIRD TO SOLOMON FORD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

J ET APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,614.

I To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, ADRIAN FRANCIS SYKns, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lorne Villa, New Barnet, Herts, England, have invented a new and useful Jet Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for producing and deflecting liquid jets and for magnifying and utilizing the deflection.

The invention finds application wherevera sensitive relay is required.

According to my invention I produce a jet'of liquid by means of a sharp edged orifice in a movable plate By vibrating the orifice plate I produce deflections in the issuing jet. If necessary for the particular purpose one or other of the magnifying devices described later is caused to act on the jet and so to increase the effects produced. The deflections so obtained can be used in various ways. Thus the jet rendered conductive by the addition of caustic soda, for example, may be caused to connect terminals in an electric relay circuit so as. to produce either a circuit closing relay or a non circuit-closing relay in a manner to be described later. Or, the jet may consist of a conductivity changer and so operate an electro-chemical microphone as described in my Patent No. 1150316.

To produce a coherent jet of high velocity liquid from a sharp edged orifice it is important to grind the orifice plate flat and the orifice itself should be circular. I may mount such a plate on a rubber pad or very thin sheet metal so that it mav be rocked or otherwise vibrated. Theorifice plate is situatedfiat the end of a pipe and means for freeing the pipe from air are provided. Care is necessary to avoid any obstruction in the pipe such as wouldbe caused by an unsymmetrical pocket. as the eddies produced are liable to cause unsteadiness in the issuing jet. When necessarv I define the axis of vibration of the plate by means of pivots which limit the motion of the plate to one of a purely rocking character; on the other hand, it may be desirable in different circumstances more or less to suppress the rocking action and to impose a vibration of translation onlv. Jets produced in this way can attain a high velocity. fifty or one hundred feet per second, without loss of coherence; further, they can impinge on smooth surfaces without splash or noise.

A sharp edge thrust partially into the jet causes, by the reaction of the forces of impact, the liquid to be thrust away from the edge and to spread out in the form of a fan. The fan is very sensitive to tremors in the impinging stream; it alters in shape laterally and in its angle of deflection in a magnified degree in response to the vibration of the jet above; Later on I describe in detail and with reference to diagrams how the deflections of this fan may operate an electric relay or microphone. In addition I illustrate various devices for separating the liquid into two portions; these more especially relate to the operation of the electro-chemical microphone, but are not necessarily restricted thereto.

As the magnifying devices above referred to spread the liquid out in the form of a fan, and this is not always convenient, I have further developed my system of magnification by impact and may cause the jet to impinge symmetrically on a plate in which is an aperture. The aperture is circular and the edge preferably sharp and well cleared; further, the jet is larger in diameter than the aperture. In consequence the sharp edge of the aperture penetrates the jet all around; a portion of the jet is abruptly bent around and runs to waste, and the remainder passes through the aperture in the plate. This latter portion is very sensitive to tremors in the stream striking the plate.

So delicate is the adjustment required that an automatic governing action is desirable. Accordingly I mount the plate so that it shall be free to move in the horizontal plane but is otherwise constrained, and the mechanism is made sufliciently massive to avoid the plate responding to rapid changes. Un-

modified forms.

modification in which all rocking move-' jet first falls.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a part vertical section through a jet producing apparatus. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are also part vertical sections through Fig. 6 shows a further ments of the plate are eliminated. Fig. 7 is a side view and Fig. 8 a front view showing a jet falling upon asharp edge and spread out into a diverging fan which is used to connect electrodes. Fig.9 shows a different arrangement of electrodes. Fig. 10 shows a method of dividing the fan into two portions bymeans of an inclined knife edge set at a slight angle to the edge upon which the Fig. 11 is a plan thereof. Figs. 12 and 13 show in plan and elevation apparatus for magnifying tremors produced in a jet. Fig. 14 is a vertical section to an tus shown in Figs. 12 and. 13. Fig. 14 is an enlarged section showing a modification.

Fig. 15 illustrates another method of splitting up a jet, and Fig. 16 showns a detail thereof. Fig. 17 shows a still further method, and Fig. 18 is a plan of part of the' apparatus shown in Fig. 17. Figs. 19 and 20 are a vertical section and a side view of more elaborate jet apparatus.

Fig. 1 shows a jet producing apparatus in which A is a plate having its upper surface ground flat and having in it an orifice B. Secured to the plateis a tube C of which the internal diameter is considerably larger than the orifice B and the upper end'of which is coned and surrounded by a rubber collar D seated in a knife edged seating E at the bottom of a reservoir E. By this means, when the reservoir is filled with liquid under pressure, a cylindrical clear and coherent jet of liquid is produced. The tube C is connected to some means, for instance, a microphone diaphragm as described in specification No. 1150316, for vibrating or rocking it and producing deflections or tremors in the jet.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative method of supporting the plate A on a plane washer or disk D which rests on the bottom of the reservoir.

Fig. 3 shows a further modification in which the plate is arranged outside the reservoir. In this case a tight joint is obtained by means of an elastic washer D and the tube and plate are pressed upward by any convenient means.

In Fig. 4, thetube G is secured to a crossbar C the ends of which are turned up. Two pivots (I can be brought down so as to bear against the ends of the bar in the plane or substantially in the plane of the orifice, the result being that the orifice plate can be rocked about an axis passing through it by means of a connection 0 to the bar G.

In Fig. 5 the plate A is supported beneath a flexible diaphragm E which forms the bottom of the reservoir.

Fig. 6 illustrates a method of supporting the plate A and of impressing upon it movements of translation only, all rocking movements being eliminated. In this case the washer D is cylindrical and surrounds an upturned flange E atthe bottom of the reservoir. The tube is shown secured to a bracket C on an arm C which is so supported that the bracket can be attracted by a magnet F of which the magnetism is varied by varying the current in a coil F Figs. 7 and 8 are two views at right angles to one another showing how a jet G produced as above described and impinging on the edge of an inclined surface H is spread out into a diverging fan.- A very slight variation in the relative positions of the axes of the jet and the edge of the surface causes a great variation in the angle and width and therefore the thickness of the fan. I may employ the changes in the width of such a fan, as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 8, to connect electrodes I.

Fig. 9 illustrates another method of controlling.a current in a circuit by means of a fan. In this case the fan falls on an inclined surface J which acts as one electrode, while the surface H acts as the other. It is obvious that the current flowing in the circuit will be varied by variations in the length of the liquid part between the two electrodes, that is, by variations in the angle at which the fan leaves the edge.

Fig. 10 illustrates a method of dividing the fan into two portions by means of an inclined knife edge K (shown in plan in Fig. 11) set at a slight angle to the edge H; thus changes in the angle of the fan will produce changes in the amount of liquid which passes in front of the knife edge K, and this liquid or that which passes behind may be added to a stream to change its conductivity, as described in specification No. 1150316.

Figs. 12 and 13 show in plan and elevation an arrangement for magnifying the effect of tremors produced in a jet as above described, or it may be for originating such tremors. The device is shown to an enlarged scale in Fig. 14. L is a plate having its upper surface ground fiat and smooth and having in it an aperture L which is of smaller diam eter than the jet G. The plate is carried by a pipe M secured in an arm N pivoted to a second arm N which in turn is piovted to a. fixed support N so that the plate L is quite free to move in its own plane, but is restrained from other movement. It is norcauses large deflections in the direction of the lower portion of the jet and also that the jet exerts on the plate a centering influence.

The arms N and N should be made fairly massive so as to restrict the movements of the plate. It is obvious thatshould the jet issue from an orifice which remains stationary instead of being vibrated or rocked, tremors may be produced in the jet by movements impressed upon the plate L.

Fig. 14* isan enlarged section showing a modified aperture. Fig. 13 also shows another method of utilizing the deflections in a jet. The jet falls upon a knife edge P formed in a block P of insulating material and havin electrodes I I one on each side of the knife edge: one of these is much closer to the edge than is the other, and it will be obvious that the current flowing between them will be varied by the angle of incidence of the jet.

In some cases I may ing the fan to impinge, as shown in Fig. 15, near the bottom of a vertical V block Q shown in cross section in Fig. 16. The sides of the V will as it were crumple up the edges of the fan and cause them to fall into a pipe R' while the middle portion of the fan will not be so diverted; either this portion or that which enters the pipe R may be introduced into'a stream of liquid to vary its conductivity. It is evident that the greater the angle of deflection of the fan, the greater would be the amount of liquid diverted into the pipe R.

Figs. 17 and 18 show still another method of dividing the fan into two portions. In this arrangement the fan falls upon a pipe S which has two sides parallel and perpendicular to the breadth of the fan and which cuts off from'the rest of the fan a section which is always ofthe same breadth. but varies in thickness, becoming thinner and thinner, the greater the angle of deflection of the fan.

Figs. 19 and 20 are a vertical section and a side view of an arrangement in which means are provided for flushing the reservoir at the commencement of operation, and for adjusting the position of the orifice by means of a hot wire device. In the reservoir is provided a side exit pipe E by means of which, at the commencement of divide the fan into two portions of varying amounts by allowworking, air may escape from the reservoir and in order that this pipe may not produce eddies in the liquid, a pipe E by which water is supplied to the reservoir is prolonged well below the mouth of the pipe E. Mounted on the reservoir is a bracket E to which is pivoted a sound box T, the diaphragm of which is connected to the crossbar C, which can rock on pivots C carried by a stirrup T secured to the frame of the sound box. The sound box is held 11 in its working position by a spring T ut it can be turned down on its pivot when it is desired to clear out the bottom of the reservoir, 01 to inspect the box. The bracket E is connected to an arm U the position of which can be adjusted by a thumb screw U by means of a wire V which is connected in circuit with a battery and electrodesI one on each side of a knife edge P in a block P of insulating material.

The reservoir is subjected to a force tending to move it to the right. This may be due to' thespring of the pipe E or to a spring connected to the reservoir and to a fixed support, and it will be seen that the position of the orifice through which the jet issues relative to the knife edge P is determined by the length of the wire V; thus, if the orifice is too far to the left, the average amount of liquid flowing down the long face of the knife edge will be greater than it should be, more current will pass to the wire V, which will expand and therefore allow the orifice to move farther to the right; if, on the other hand, the orifice be too far to the right, less current will flow through the wire which will cool and contract anu pull the orifice back to its proper position.

What I claim is 1. In jet producing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir for liquid, a plate situated in the bottom thereof and having in it an orifice, and means for vibrating the plate.

2. Injet producing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir for liquid, a plate situated in the bottom thereof and having in it an orifice, and means for vibrating the plate about an axis lying in the plane of the orifice.

3. In' jet producing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir for liquid, a plate situated in the bottom thereof and having in it an orifice, and means for vibrating the plate at right angles to the axis of the orifice.

4. In jet producing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir for liquid, a plate situated in the bottom thereof and having in it an orifice, a tube of larger diameter than the orifice depending from the plate, and means for vibrating the plate.

5. In jet producing apparatus, the combination of a reservoir for liquid, a seating in the bottom thereof, a plate having in it an orifice, a tube dependin from the plate below the orifice and an e astic collar surrounding the tube and fitting the seating, and means for vibrating the tube.

6. The combination of means for producing a jet of liquid, an edge of a surface adapted to penetrate part of the jet and to I convert ,it into a fan and means for varying the relative positions of the edge and the 1 axls of the jet and adapted to convert it into a fan and means .for dividing the fan into .ing a two ortions.

9. lhe combination of means for produc- 'et of liquid, an edge of a surface adapted to penetrate part of the jet and to convert it into a fan, means for varying the relative positions of the edge and the axis of the jet, and means for dividing the fan into two portions.

10. The combination of means for producing a jet of liquid, a surface inclined to the axis of the jet and adapted to convert it into a fan, and a knife edge inclined to the breadth of the fan and adapted to divide it into two portions.

11. The combination of means for producing a jet of liquid, a concave block situated in the path of the jet and means for varying the relative positions of the block and the axis of the jet.

12. The combination of means for producing a jet of liquid, a surface inclined to the axis of the jet and adapted to convert it into a fan, and a tube situated in the path of the fan and having two sides parallel and perpendicular to the breadth thereof.

1 13. The combination of means for producing a jet of conducting liquid, an edge of insulating material adapted to divide the jet and electrodes adapted to be connected by the divided jet.

14. The combination with means for producing a jet ofliquid of a plate having in it an aperture which is of smaller diameter than the jet and of Which the center lies normally in the axis of the jet.

15. The combination with means for producing a jet of liquid of a plate having in it an aperture which is of smaller diameter than the jet and of which the center lies normally in the axisof the jet, and means for varying the relative positions of the center of the aperture and the axis of the et.

16. The combination with means for producing a jet of liquid of a plate having in it an aperture which is of smaller diameter than the jet and so mounted that it is free to move in a plane perpendicular to the normal axis of the jet.

17 The combination of a jet issuing from an orifice and means controlled by the jet for adjusting the position of the orifice.

18. The combination of a jet issuing from an orifice, an electric device adapted to regulate the position" of the orifice and means whereby the jet controls the supply of electric current to such device.

19. The combination of a liquid reservoir having in its bottom a jet producing orifice, a side pipe adapted to allow of the escape of air and a shield adapted to screen the side pipe and thus prevent eddies reaching the orifice.

ADRIAN FRANCIS SYKES. 

